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August 2020 www.surfacecreekveterinarycenter.com 970-856-4474
SCVC Pawprint
IMMUNIZE TO PROTECT THEM Give Your Pet a Long, Healthy Life
we run on the cautious side when we administer vaccines because we’d rather a pet get their shot and stay healthy than risk them getting sick. If you’re not sure when your pet’s last vaccine was or would like to determine their immunity, we can do blood work and run tests to see if your pup or cat is due for a shot. We’re able to measure their immunity against diseases like parvo and distemper and give you a confident answer about whether they need a vaccine this year or they can wait. When we’re drawing blood for these tests, we can also check your pet’s liver and kidney function and make sure everything is running smoothly. Getting your pet vaccinated is one of the best ways you can give them a long, healthy life. Give us a call to schedule their next immunization appointment or if you’d like to find out when they’ll need one next.
There are two major reasons to vaccinate your pet: 1.) so your pet stays healthy and doesn’t die from a preventable disease and 2.) so you don’t have to pay the hefty price of treating one of these preventable diseases. It’s also something you’re doing not just for your pet but also for the well-being of every pet in our community — the more pets that are healthy and well, the less disease is able to spread and infect others. Puppies start off their lives with a series of vaccines to protect them from some of the most common, and deadly, diseases out there, including distemper, parvo, and rabies. The first rabies shot they get as a puppy is good for one year, and then we’ll give the second one. We wait until a puppy is old enough to respond to the vaccine, because if they’re too young, their maternal antibodies will still be active and will respond to the vaccine, meaning they won’t build up immunity in their own system. Typically, we start the series at about six weeks. After that, they’ll need a booster every three years. While we used to recommend pets get immunized yearly, vaccine protocols have changed, and most vaccines are good for three years. This does vary, and some pets can go five years between vaccines and still be immune, but
E very August, we focus on one very the dangerous diseases these shots prevent. For example, treating a puppy for parvo, a common disease that is easily spread, can cost anywhere from $300–$500 a day . We have to give IV injections because the puppy can’t take anything orally. We dread any pet owner finding themselves in a position where they have to decide between hefty medical bills and their pet’s life. We know vaccinations can be expensive, but the alternatives will almost certainly be more costly. important part of our practice: getting pets immunized. We are so passionate about this topic because we’ve seen the heartbreaking results when a pet gets
Here’s to keeping pets healthy and strong,
P.S. In honor of National Immunization Month, we’re continuing our annual special with engraved tags for all pets who get immunized this month. Bring in your pet for their shots, and they’ll get a customized tag engraved with their name. We look forward to helping you keep your pet happy and healthy! Dr. Susie and Dr. Jeff
“IT’S ALSO SOMETHING YOU’RE DOING NOT JUST FOR YOUR PET BUT ALSO FOR THE WELL-BEING OF EVERY PET IN OUR COMMUNITY.”
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For anyone who’s going through a tough time, pets can be a much-needed source of stability and affection. That’s what Shayna, a loving white lab, has been for a disabled Vietnam veteran named Jon. After Shayna was abandoned by her previous owners, Jon stepped in and adopted Shayna. “In 30 seconds I had a new best friend,” he said about meeting Shayna. “I knew I was not leaving without her.” A year later, Jon and Shayna are established companions. According to Jon, “I did not rescue her; Shayna rescued me.” The Labrador Retriever Rescue of Florida (LRROF) is behind this fortuitous meeting and many other heartwarming stories like it. For 18 years, this organization has been rescuing, caring for, and placing Labrador retrievers in loving homes with Floridians who are overjoyed to have pups. Finding the perfect home for each lab is a priority of the rescue; they share information about each dog and do home visits to make sure a human and lab partnership is destined for success from the very beginning. The adoption process includes an application, a home visit, and a chance to meet adoptable dogs, all of which takes about two weeks to ensure each dog is matched with its forever family. As the organization says on their website, “LRROF is committed to making a lifelong match for all our adopted Labradors.” The nonprofit gets most of its help from volunteers and veterinarian partners who are dedicated to helping place pets in homes. The rescue says the volunteers are at the heart of their organization, as they can only save as many dogs as they have space for. With the compassion of volunteers and the families who have adopted pets through LRROF, fewer dogs become abandoned and mistreated, and both humans and pets can both find a loyal companion. If you’re looking to donate time or resources to an organization, consider a local animal shelter or rescues like Surface Creek Animal Shelter here in Cedaredge. You can volunteer to foster a pet who needs a home, and in the process, you may even find your new best friend. A NEW BEST FRIEND The Power of Adoption The Best Companion
PRIVATE WOJTEK, HEROIC BROWN BEAR OF WWII Many brave soldiers answered the call to bear arms during WWII, but one Polish artillery supply company took things a step further and armed a bear. That’s right — among the countless animal heroes of WWII was a full-grown brown bear from the mountains of Northern Iran named Wojtek. Wojtek first joined the Polish soldiers as a cub. A young Iranian boy found him after a hunter most likely shot his mother. Then, when a group of Polish prisoners of war, recently released from Soviet gulags to join the Allied forces, passed through the town where the boy and the bear cub lived, they traded some of their rations for the cub and took him with them. The soldiers loved the cub and named him Wojtek, which means “happy warrior” in Polish. They nursed him with condensed milk from a vodka bottle and fed him some of their limited rations. Over time, the bear grew to be 6 feet tall and over 400 pounds, but because he had grown up around humans, he was a gentle giant. He learned several mannerisms from his human friends and even took a liking to beer and cigarettes. For the many soldiers who had lost or were separated from their families, Wojtek was a welcome boost to morale. When the soldiers reached the coast of Egypt, where they were to embark by boat to Italy, British soldiers wouldn’t let Wojtek on board because he wasn’t a soldier. So naturally, the Polish soldiers gave Wojtek a service number, and he officially became a private in their company, complete with a rank and a paybook. Private Wojtek’s moment of fame came when his company fought in the Battle of Monte Cassino. The bear saw his human counterparts carrying crates of artillery shells, and he began mirroring their actions. Throughout the entire battle, he calmly carried crates of ammo, which would have required four men to lift, to his comrades. In honor of Wojtek’s service during the battle, the company changed its emblem to an image of a bear carrying an artillery shell, and Wojtek was promoted to the rank of corporal. After the war, Wojtek was moved to a zoo in Edinburgh, Scotland, where he lived until he was 21 years old. There is now a bronze statue of Wojtek in Edinburgh’s West Princes Street Gardens, ensuring that this brave bear will not be forgotten.
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YOUR ‘CLEAN’ WORKOUT ROUTINE Turn Household Chores Into Effective Exercise
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Pick Up : Instead of simply bending over to pick up toys or clothes, do a squat with every item you grab. Remember to use your legs, not your back. You can also do squats while unloading the dishwasher or with any other chore that involves repeated bending. Wipe Down: Whether you’re wiping windows or scrubbing appliances, do big, exaggerated arm circles until your muscles start to burn and make sure you’re switching arms as you go. Cook: It’s not cleaning, but it’s still a chore with useful downtime. While food is simmering or thawing in the microwave, do some pushups, situps, or planks to get your muscles moving.
Everyone knows how labor-intensive cleaning can be. A long day of scrubbing down your house is a great way to work your muscles and get your blood pumping, so crank up some tunes, grab a mop, and get ready to transform your cleaning routine into a great workout. To get physical benefits from cleaning, you need to turn up the intensity of your methods. Exaggerate your motions, pick up your pace, and keep your abs tight and knees flexed. Nearly any chore can be turned into an exercise, but here are some ideas to get you started.
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You can implement dozens of exercises to turn mundane activities into beneficial workouts. Some chores will burn more calories than others,
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Vacuum: Vacuum briskly nonstop for at least 20 minutes, switching arms as you go. For an added challenge, do lunges as you vacuum and remember to keep your toes pointed straight ahead and your knees bent at 90-degree angles.
but every bit of activity helps. Now’s the time to work your way to a cleaner house and a healthier you.
lients Spreading the Word Thanks so much to these clients who referred new patients to us last month:
The dog days of summer are here, which means we’re all looking for ways to cool off. Help your pup stay cool this summer with these easy- to-make frozen PB&J bites. Frozen PB&J Bites
Inspired by Pawsh- Magazine.com
• Rance Brady • Lena & Marcus Roeder • Krisann Wist • Rick & Claudia Lopez • Desiree Montoya • Diann Lang
INGREDIENTS
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12 medium strawberries
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1/4 cup cold water
4 spoonfuls xylitol-free peanut butter
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DIRECTIONS
1. Rinse strawberries and remove tops. Transfer strawberries to a blender and purée with water until smooth. 2. Pour mixture into preferred single-serving molds (like an ice cube tray) to 3/4 full. 3. Carefully place a dollop of peanut butter in each filled mold. Make sure peanut butter sinks into the mixture. 4. Place in the freezer for at least 5 hours or until frozen solid. 5. Serve frozen on a hot summer day!
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WWW.SURFACECREEKVETERINARYCENTER.COM | 970-856-4474
17800 HANSON RD. CEDAREDGE, CO 81413
1 inside this issue One of the Most Important Ways to Care for Your Pet
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Private Wojtek, Heroic Brown Bear of WWII
The Difference a Pet Makes
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Exercise Your Way to a Clean Home
Clients Spreading the Word!
Easy Frozen Dog Treats
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Engaging Indoor Activities
Summertime means getting out of the house to enjoy the sunshine and the bright blue sky. But even during this great time of year, you may have to spend some of these precious days inside, not outside. Rather than scrolling through social media or reminiscing about better days, here are a few ideas you can use to turn a day spent indoors into a fun summer memory! Stuck Inside?
3 ACTIVITIES TO KEEP YOU BUSY
Plan Your Next Vacation Spending the day inside might just be the perfect time to plan your next vacation. Use this time to calculate the expenses of the trip, such as travel, board, food, and souvenirs. You can also research and figure out where you’re going to stay ahead of time, whether that be a hotel or an Airbnb, to optimize your experience. Once you have the groundwork done, you’ll have a better idea of how your trip will go and be able to focus on the fun stuff when the time comes! Change It Up If you’ve been putting off rearranging or reorganizing a room in your house, then a day at home is a great chance to get started. Switching up the layout of your stuff gives your home a fresh new look and provides you with an opportunity to deep-clean your space. If you have a patio or porch, then try sprucing up those outdoor spaces with new furniture, potted plants, or trendy decor. Just imagine how satisfying it will feel once everything is in a new place and sparkling clean. Even when you’d rather be outside enjoying the last days of summer, these indoor activities will keep you entertained and give you something fun to look forward to!
Get Crafty You’re bound to have a few materials floating around the house that you can use to create a new art project or even start a new hobby. If you have extra sheets of paper lying around, then give origami a go. Do you have a shirt you don’t wear anymore but still love? Turn it into a new pillow cover or a bag. You can also create fun garden decorations by painting rocks, making a wind chime, or repurposing an old boot into a new plant holder. You never know — whatever you choose to do could become your next passion.
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